Ponting apologises for smashing LCD

Ahmedabad: Australian captain Ricky Ponting on Tuesday apologised for smashing a LCD screen in the team’s dressing room.

An enraged Ricky Ponting had vented out his frustration by smashing a television set with his bat in Australian team’s dressing room after he was run out in the Group A match against Zimbabwe.

The Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) officials claimed that Ponting immediately apologized and requested the authorities for a replacement.

However, his action drew flak from former cricketers.

South Africa great Barry Richards said, "The dressing room is supposed to be sacrosanct so I am a little bit disappointed. That sort of behaviour you don't want to hear about during a World Cup. You want to hear about Ricky Ponting making a 100, not messing up in the dressing room."

"But one thing is obvious that there is a lot of pressure on him to try and win the World Cup," added Richards.

Former India cricketer Arun Lal also criticized Ponting for his action.

"It's too childish, grow up, for God's sake. You are playing the World Cup, you are an idol for the next generation," said Lal.

This is not the first time an Australian cricketer has been involved in breaching the ICC's code of conduct in the dressing room.

Former opener Matthew Hayden was fined and severely reprimanded after he was charged with breaking the glass panel in the dressing room in 2003.